How to Read a Cricket Scorecard: Batting, Bowling and Extras
Decode a cricket scorecard step by step: batting figures, dismissal notations, extras, fall of wickets, bowling analysis, strike rate and economy rate.
A cricket scorecard can look like a wall of numbers and abbreviations, but it tells the complete story of an innings once you know how to read it. This guide explains each section and the notation most commonly used, so you can follow any match report with confidence.
The header
At the top you will usually find the teams, the venue, the date, the toss result and the format. Next comes the result, for example a margin of runs or wickets. A team that wins batting first wins by runs, while a team that wins while chasing wins by the number of wickets it had left.
The batting card
Each batter appears in batting order, with columns such as the following:
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Batter and dismissal | Name and how the batter was out, or ‘not out’ |
| R | Runs scored |
| B | Balls faced |
| M | Minutes at the crease (often only in Tests) |
| 4s | Number of boundaries hit for four |
| 6s | Number of sixes hit |
| SR | Strike rate, calculated as runs per 100 balls |
A strike rate of 150, for instance, means the batter scores 1.5 runs per ball. In T20 this is common among top hitters, while Test batters usually score much more slowly.
Dismissal notation
Next to each batter is a short description of how they were out. The most common forms are:
- b Smith: bowled by Smith.
- c Jones b Smith: caught by Jones, bowled by Smith.
- lbw b Smith: leg before wicket, bowler Smith.
- run out (Brown): run out, with the fielder involved in brackets.
- st Taylor b Smith: stumped by wicketkeeper Taylor off the bowling of Smith.
- hit wicket b Smith: the batter dislodged their own stumps.
- not out: the batter was still at the crease when the innings ended.
On many scorecards a dagger next to a name marks the wicketkeeper and (c) marks the captain, but these conventions vary between websites, so check the key.
Extras
Extras are runs added without a batter hitting the ball with the bat. They are broken down into:
- b (byes): runs run when the ball passes the batter and keeper.
- lb (leg byes): runs run after the ball hits the batter’s body.
- w (wides): a penalty run for a ball too wide to be hit.
- nb (no-balls): a penalty run for illegal deliveries, such as overstepping.
These are shown as a total, for example ‘Extras 12 (b 1, lb 3, w 6, nb 2)’.
Total and fall of wickets
The total line shows the team’s runs, wickets and overs, such as 168/6 (20 overs). Runs come first, then wickets lost. The run rate may also be shown.
Fall of wickets lists the team score at each dismissal, for example 1-24 (Smith, 3.2 ov). That means the first wicket fell with the score at 24 in the third over, on the second ball. This section reveals partnerships: the difference between consecutive scores shows how many runs two batters added together.
The bowling analysis
The bowling card lists each bowler with the following columns:
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| O | Overs bowled |
| M | Maidens, meaning overs with no runs conceded off the bat |
| R | Runs conceded |
| W | Wickets taken |
| Econ | Economy rate: runs conceded per over |
| Wd and NB | Wides and no-balls bowled |
Figures are often written as 3-0-24-2, meaning three overs, no maidens, 24 runs conceded and two wickets. An economy under six in T20 is generally considered tight, though context such as the pitch and match situation matters.
Did not bat and other notes
Players who did not bat appear under ‘did not bat’. Some scorecards also include umpires, the match referee and a player of the match award. In tournament cards you may find notes on Super Overs or DLS adjustments, as covered in our DLS guide.
Putting it together
To understand a match quickly, check the result, then the totals, then the top scorers and best bowlers. Look at the fall of wickets to see where the game turned. Strike rates and economy rates show how aggressive or economical each player was. Once you are used to the layout, a scorecard becomes a compact account of the whole contest.
Frequently asked questions
What does 168/6 mean on a scorecard?
It means the team scored 168 runs and lost six wickets. Runs are listed first and wickets second.
What is a strike rate?
Strike rate is the number of runs a batter scores per 100 balls faced, so 120 means 1.2 runs per ball.
What is a maiden over?
A maiden is an over in which the batting side scores no runs off the bat, and which includes no wides or no-balls.